Quit cold turkey in time for turkey day

Doctors at a cancer treatment center in Pinellas Park want smokers to quit cold turkey in time for turkey day.

In recognition of National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, WellSpring Oncology is helping smokers kick the habit through a new campaign, Bucks for Butts.

Throughout November, any smoker who brings an opened pack of cigarettes to the cancer center, 6600 66th St. N, will get a $5 Publix gift card and sign an "I Quit'' petition. WellSpring will contact participants about their progress and, at the end of the month, those who haven't started smoking again will be entered in a drawing for a to-be-announced prize.

Dr. Robert Miller, a radiation oncologist at WellSpring, said the center wanted to give people an extra incentive to quit while educating them about the dangers. Having smokers register at a place that treats lung cancer patients might encourage them to get more serious about quitting.

"We want to make that tie between smoking and cancer,'' Miller said.

Each year, lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined — making it the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. In addition to cancer, smoking can contribute to heart disease, strokes, respiratory issues, infertility in women and low birth-weight babies.

Despite advances in lung cancer treatment, the cure rate for cancer is only 16 percent, Miller said. It's often difficult to detect and can advance quickly without a patient knowing it.

Miller hopes Bucks for Butts helps a few people quit the habit altogether or at least consider it. The holidays are as good as any time to start.

"A lot of people say, "If you really want to do something for me this year, just stop smoking,' '' he said.